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FEELING GUILTY
"Don't get the wrong idea," Tracy said with a playful smile. "We're only performing once. No intention of becoming singers—not one bit. But tonight… this song is for you all."
"This one's about love," Mirabel added softly. "About heartbreak."
The crowd hushed as the beat began to play.
Tracy's voice rose first, trembling but strong.
"I thought you'd remember… but it seems that you forgot.
It's hard for me to blame you when you were already lost…"
"—Oh yeah," Mirabel chimed in.
The harmonies wrapped around each other, raw and sharp.
Tracy's lyrics struck deeper with every line: "I gave you all of me, now you don't wanna be involved… Tell me, why'd you have to hit and run me? Now I'm all alone, crying ugly…"
When Mirabel took over, her voice cracked with restrained pain.
"Another story that's sad and true… you had to be the one to let me down, to color me blue…"
She sang, but behind the notes, memories flooded—her father's cruelty, the way Lucian had once broken her. She had forgiven him, but forgiveness didn't erase scars. Her throat tightened, tears threatening. Yet she smiled, forcing brightness over her trembling heart.
Lucian, watching from the crowd, felt every word pierce through him like glass. The lyrics weren't just lyrics—they were knives, sharpened truths. He swallowed hard, guilt clawing up his chest.
The final refrain echoed, "All my love is gone… Now you're dead and gone…"
The audience erupted into applause, but Mirabel lowered her gaze, blinking back tears. Tracy, catching her trembling shoulders, pulled her into a hug. "Why are you crying?" she whispered.
The stage descended slowly, their hands waving to the crowd until they disappeared below. Managers stretched out helping hands—Simon for Mirabel, James for Tracy.
Tracy smiled as she caught Daniel grinning at her from the audience, then quickly looked away. But when she turned back to Mirabel, the brightness faded; Mirabel's smile was fragile, and her eyes glistened as though she'd been holding back oceans.